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Sunday, November 22, 2009

As I sat down several times over the course of the past day or so to be very productive in knocking out a few lines in my "to do" list something overcame me. I started with good intentions. I looked at my list for a few moments and knew this was a perfect opportunity to feel superior to it. And yet once again the list won out.

There is something to be said about the gift of the computer and all the benefits it brings to each of us, especially when we are lucky enough to find a new "cousin" or finally break through just a little crack in the brick wall that stands.......just so tall. Where would we be if the LDS records were not continually being expanded onto databases for all of us to view, as well as the millions of other records worldwide.

And that is actually my point- so to speak. I started with a list, a path to take with some goals to achieve, and then all that detouring took over as I discovered one site after another after another.....

I have decided that in between Monday Madness and Tombstone Tuesday that every once in a while I am going to add a Wandering Weekend. A wandering weekend just to enjoy what genealogy is all about again, without concerning myself with the concerns of so much to do, so little time.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Jennie (McDonald) is my great-grand aunt on my paternal side, buried with her husband William Nixon. Their daughter Estlebelle died as a teenager after drowning while swimming in White County, Illinois.

Monday, November 16, 2009

When I began this blog, one of my goals was to have a place to dedicate to writing about the discoveries I would find down the road regarding my family history, as well as to share information with others regarding the many facets of genealogy. Unfortunately, neither one of these has happened in the past 2 weeks and i have missed this blog, so new in my life. I have quickly discovered that maintaining a blog has other benefits, such as helping me to keep my efforts focused on genealogy, and in delighting in all the avenues that we all know encompass this great "hobby".

Hard to believe, considering that just a few months ago I found blogs unnecessary and time consuming!

The purpose of today is to return to one of my early entries which is to quote entries that my great-grandfather John James Raley made into a journal he wrote about the family in 1918. I know this is a gift that should be shared, and I would be beggind if I learned that a cousin had such a treasure as well. So, I am going to commit myself to writing at least one entry a week, writing it just as my great-grandfather did spelling errors amd all.

"My Grand Father John Raley his brothers and sister all raised large families they were all Farmers most all of their lives except his brother James Raley who quit farming when he was about 45 years of age and engaged in the general merchandise business he also dealt quite largely in Tobaco at one time and at one time since I can remember was said to be worth several thousand dollars he was better fixed in a financial way than any of his brothers or his sisters husband Robert Wilson in fact he was very much better fixed than any Raley except my cousin William Raley of Louisville Kentucky whose in come is said to be some thing like or nearly one thousand dollars per month at this time in rents on his property he is a young man too something like 45 years of age and started out 26 years age without a dollar."

Kim

About Me

I have been researching my family since I was a teenager and get more excited and interested as the years go by. Family history is mystery, detective work, romance novels and thrillers, combined with determination, good manners, and a love of cemeteries and old buildings.
I am a native Hoosier and proud of it, can honestly say that every stage of parenting (even the teenage years) have been my favorite, and have been lucky to have two parents who believed that traveling the country and world when I was growing up was more important than a second car, a bigger house, or a multitude of other luxuries. Of course, traveling was also less expensive 30+ years ago and a lot more fun too.
I am a retired clinical social worker who worked with trauma children and teenagers and their families in challenging situations and enjoy those times when I run into one of those now grown men or women and see where their lives are now.
By The way, my door is always open for new family members, inquiring minds, and anyone with a question or a concern. I can be contacted at k2genfam (at) insightbb.com.